ERNEST SHORROCKS
12 March 1875 - 20 July 1916
At School 1887 - 1892
Sjt 5626 20th Royal Fusiliers


THE HULMEIAN – December 1916
Old Hulmeians and the War
Killed in Action
Sergeant ERNEST SHORROCKS, Royal Fusiliers, whose death in action occurred on July 20th, was very well known to the first generation of Hulmeians. He entered the School with a foundation scholarship at its opening in January 1887, and before he left in July, 1892, he was the head of the School in both work and games. He had a large and honourable share in first setting up the standard of all-round excellence which has been our ideal. He was captain in cricket and football, and proceeded to the Manchester University with a County Council Scholarship in science taking his degree of B. Sc. in 1896 with first-class honours in chemistry, and afterwards the degree of M Sc. He returned to the School for a year as assistant master, and then was at Knaresborough Grammar School. At a later period he removed to Taunton on his appointment as science master at Queen’s College. After 10 years service there he went to London University for further study, and afterwards was appointed science master of Taunton Grammar School. Just before the outbreak of war, Sergeant Shorrocks came to spend a holiday with his parents and when war was declared he sad; “Chaps like me ought to go,” and joined the Royal Fusiliers. Captain Templar wrote as follows to his parents; “Sergeant Shorrocks died fighting splendidly. He did wonderful work reorganising the men.” Sergeant Shorrocks excelled at cricket, tennis and football. He was an old member of the Chorlton-cum-Hardy Cricket and Golf Clubs and during the time he lived at Taunton he played in the Somerset County cricket eleven. He showed his continued interest in the old School by giving an annual prize for cricket, which was awarded for excellence in fielding. In him the School has given of her best to the Country, and he has given the School from first to last a high and noble example of which we should be proud.
Biography Manchester University |
Ernest was born in 1875 at Middleton to J. H. Shorrocks. He was educated at Hulme Grammar School (1887-1892) and entered Manchester University in 1893 with a County Council Scholarship to study chemistry. He obtained a First Class Honours in 1896 and in 1900 an MSc. In 1896 he took up a post as assistant science master at Hulme Grammar School, moved to St James Grammar School in Knaresborough a year later and then to Queens College as a science master where he remained for 10 years before undertaking further study at London University after which he became a science master at Taunton Grammar School.
Ernest was a keen sportsman. At
school he was the captain of the cricket and football teams and whilst at the
University he was part of the gymnasium eight. He was also a member of Chorlton
Cricket and Golf Clubs. He went on to play cricket for Somerset, making his
first appearance in a match against Lancashire in June 1905, and rugby for
Taunton town. Each year he returned to his old school to award an annual
cricket prize for excellence in fielding.
Ernest was on holiday with his parents when war broke out and despite their objections to his joining the army he clearly felt he had a duty to do so telling them “Chaps like me ought to go”. In September 1914 he joined the University and Public Schools Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, and soon became a Serjeant. He served on the front near La Bassee from November 1915 to June 1916 and then had a short period of leave at home with his parents before returning to the front where he was killed during the attack on High Wood on 20th July 1916. The University magazine noting it “had to mourn the loss of another gallant son”. A Captain Templar of Chorlton-Cum-Hardy wrote to Ernest’s parents to let them know that he “died fighting splendidly. He did wonderful work re-organising the men”. His body was never recovered. Ernest left effects worth £467 7s 10d to John Henry Shorrocks, a commercial clerk. At the time of his death Ernest’s brother Henry was also serving, as a musketry instructor near Newhaven